Six Mile Creek
Words and Pics John Ford
West of the New South Wales Sapphire Coast, Six Mile Creek campground is an easy escape from the crowds — a quiet bush camp steeped in nature and history.
Tucked in a southern corner of New South Wales is a coastal area that Victorians stream to every year. Just as the Gold Coast and Byron Bay are magnets to Sydneysiders, the Sapphire Coast — stretching from Bermagui to Eden — draws southern visitors to the magnificent shining waters and secluded beaches. And while the main attraction is the sapphire-blue ocean, many holidaymakers don’t realise that the mountains to the west hold attractions of a different kind.
The Great Dividing Range runs along Australia’s eastern coast, from Victoria to Cape York in Queensland, and many early tracks crossed this rugged terrain. In places, roads led to permanent settlements, as seen in the NSW Blue Mountains and the Gold Coast Hinterland. Others, like Tantatawangalo Mountain Road, are less-travelled roads through memorable bushland.
Six Mile Creek is a campsite deep in the Tantawangalo Forest, which might offer the restorative dose of nature many are searching for. It’s a place of eucalyptus scents and a creek so clear that you have to look twice to see the water. As part of the South East Forest National Park, the region is alive with a history of timber-getting and bullock-driving, along with one of Australia’s longest-running environmental campaigns against logging in the old-growth forests during the 1980s and 1990s.
The original Tantawangalo Mountain Road track opened in 1860, following Aboriginal pathways, and allowed access from the coast to the Monaro region for droving cattle and delivering mail. William Poohan, the original pioneer postman, wrote of being guided along ancient pathways on his route from Twofold Bay to the Monaro. Reminders of the past live on in names like Postmans and Cattlemans tracks, further up the mountain from Six Mile Creek campground. These steep and boggy tracks were bypassed in the late 1800s when Tantawangalo Mountain Road was pushed through along the ridgelines.
Once a reserve along a travelling stock route, Six Mile Creek campground is a naturally flat area with half a dozen caravan-friendly campsites beneath towering eucalypts, surrounded by tree ferns. It’s tucked away at the junction of two creeks, and is a good spot to see wildlife, including wallabies and bandicoots. Families of greater gliders live here, so keep an eye out for them at night. A walk around the clearing reveals trees blazed by bullockies and remnants of log loading ramps.
An easy walk to the cascades
From the campground there is a wheelchair-friendly 300m metal walkway downstream to a viewing platform overlooking picturesque cascades. Seating here invites you to linger and take in the soothing sounds of tumbling water and the bird songs of the bush. A steep stairway leads down to the creek and a small swimming hole filled with chilled water.
If you have a suitable 4WD, there are nearby drives that are worth exploring. Postmans Track is a few kilometres to the west, leading down to the Devils Crossing, a bush camp on the side of the creek. Check water levels before crossing the creek and continuing along Cattlemans Track, which winds through groves of tree ferns and wet eucalypt forest.
Nunnock Swamp has a walking track through the grasslands and to remnants of old cattle yards. Alexanders Hut survives as a reminder of life in the 1920s when farmers eked out a living in the remote grazing lease.
If you're planning to explore the rugged 4WD tracks around Six Mile Creek, having reliable navigation is essential. The South East New South Wales Map and the NSW State Map provide detailed topographic mapping, national park information and 4WD track coverage to help you confidently navigate remote forest roads like Postmans Track and Cattlemans Track. Whether you're discovering hidden campsites or planning your next off-grid adventure, Hema Maps helps you travel with confidence.
Getting there
Six Mile Creek campground is about an hour’s drive from the tourist hotspots of Merimbula or Tathra. Head to Candelo and take Tantawangalo Mountain Road through rolling dairy country and then along the dirt road as it winds up the mountain. Although the website suggests only car or camper-trailer camping, there’s ample room for caravans.
Campsites are roomy and have been mostly cleared of fallen (and falling) branches — but be mindful where you set up for the night. A pit toilet and fireplaces are available on-site; however, you’ll need to bring your own firewood. The national park is pet-free. The campsites are unallocated and free, except for a $6 booking fee (nationalparks.nsw.gov.au). Phone reception is limited.
After a morning exploring the forest or cooling off by the cascades, Six Mile Creek is the perfect place to slow down and enjoy a picnic beneath the towering eucalypts. Pack a hearty lunch, settle in by the creek and soak up the peaceful bush surrounds. With durable, timeless camp kitchen gear from Barebones Living, it's easy to create a comfortable outdoor dining experience, whether you're sharing a meal with family or enjoying a quiet lunch in nature.
Six Mile Creek NSW: A Peaceful Bush Camping Escape